Landscape Architecture Portfolio (English)

Laura Galasso landscape architecture portfolio

Master in Landscape Architecture at Manchester School of Architecture Bachelor in Science of Architecture at Politecnico di Milano

INDEX

CONCRETE SLABS INGLESTON INDIGENOUS STONES TEAK WOOD SLATES

N

CONCRETE

Laura Galasso - 16057662

Introduction Landscape Architecture Master Course - Stockport Floodplain - Final Year Exhibition - Equilibrium | Contemplation | Protection - Manchester Dock 5 - Green Sequence Work in Practice

page 1 page page page page page

3 17 20 21 24

page 26

Architecture Bachelor Course - SOPRAsottodentroFUORI - Connections - Erg Atlas

page 33 page 36 page 39

GREEN SEQUENCE PORTFOLIO

PLAN

1:500

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INTRODUCTION

MY PHILOSOPHY My university career (Bachelor Degree in Architecture and Master Degree in Landscape Architecture) gave me the chance to experience the work of an architect from two different, and sometimes opposite, points of view, helping me to develop a knowledge and a philosophy that could include and balance both fields.

I believe that Landscaper Architecture is, or should be, at the base of urban developments and regenerations. Before creating buildings, it is important to arrange and design the space that surrounds them, creating in this way a strong and organised “surface” to work with when composing structures. External spaces are the ones that we encounter first, the ones that allow us to move from an area to another, therefore they should be a priority in the design to create inviting and beautiful places.

As Landscape Architects we must seek at creating spaces with both artistic, functional and technical qualities. A space has to be “artistic” because it is important to represent and underline the image, and sometimes the history, of a place through relevant symbols and features. Every layout has to be carried out following a story that is told and expressed through the proposed design. A space has to be “functional”, therefore rich in elements and components that attract visitors and are able to provide a place to use and enjoy. Lastly, a space has to be “technical” because designs should be realised through the application of theories as well as solutions to possible problems.

These are the objectives I aim at achieving in my designs, and they are what I would like to achieve in my future career as a Landscape Architect.

1

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

STOCKPORT FLOODPLAIN a.y. 2017-2018 Professors: I. Fisher, E. Fox

Landscape Atelier 2

The project to develop was based on a “manifesto” of ideas created for the development of the city of Manchester and its peripheries. This approach was based on the principles I thought were relevant for the metropolitan area development, and took in consideration both human (anthropocentric) and natural (biocentric) values.

With my manifesto (see image on right) I wanted to underline the possibility to create a network of human and natural habitats to increase the city social and functional framework as well as its biodiversity. This would have been possible through the use and reuse of industrial areas, creating attractive and unique places for people, and through the creation of sustainable strategies and resilient landscapes that could face climatic problems.

An area of the peripheries of Manchester had to be chosen to apply the manifesto ideas and develop a masterplan. The industrial area of Stockport next to the River Mersey was the right site for applying my strategy which included the reuse of historical industrial buildings, the creation of a resilient landscape that could avoid flooding risks and the importance of the symbolic connection between the industries and the river.

Site Location

TOWARD A NETWORK OF HABITATS Peripheries need to be the starting point for future developments, where people and nature must be at the centre of urban regeneration strategies. This manifesto aims to give a series of statements useful for achieving an urban space where human and natural habitats coexist.

ANTHROPOCENTRIC

BIOCENTRIC

PROMOTE A FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL AND FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY

Achieve good land use regulations and develop city tools and technique for the urban management in order to avoid a fragmented urban layout and to promote diversity for its inhabitants.

Through this mechanism ‘infrastructures’ can be provided to people within a short distance avoiding the problem of traffic congestion toward the city centre and consequently pollution.

PROMOTE A NETWORK FOR DIFFERENT ECOLOGIES

CONNECTION/ NETWORK

Site Land Use

DESIGN URBAN HABITATS STARTING FROM THE EXISTING

It is important to consider the existing urban areas and infrastructures in the peripheries and develop regeneration proposals from what we already have now, through the rethinking of existing elements to improve them and to create unique environments. Abandoned industries, wastelands, secluded areas are examples of the possible components to take into consideration.

Site Terrain

It is important to design green networks that can develop throughout a city to enhance its biodiversity. Well designed ecologies are needed to provide liveable spaces for species and to give them the possibility to be various and rich like in a ‘wild’ environment. This improvement will allow the cohabitation of people and other species in an urban space where also structures and nature will be able to coexist in an harmonious way.

DESIGN NATURAL HABITATS TO ANTICIPATE FUTURE CLIMATE ADAPTATION

ADAPTATION/ RESILIENCE

Address environmental change through a range of new sustainable strategies that include the management of water, waste and energy, stormwater management, air quality and biodiversity. It is important to start thinking of sustainability as the one of the firsts achievement when designing.

Site Problems

PROMOTE NATURAL HABITATS TO IMPROVE CITIES LIVEABILITY

PROMOTE DESIGN-BASED SOLUTIONS

It is important to encourage the use of innovative solutions to solve urban problems, taking inspiration from other contemporary cities.

Design outcomes are vital to set up a rich public environment in the peripheries. Providing dynamic and significant places where a combinations of activities are produced and consumed is important to improve existing areas and to attract people.

COMPLEXITY/ EFFICIENCY

Rich green areas are very important to people, to make them escape from urban routines, to provide a space for leisure, social and cultural cohesion.

They are therefore needed to improve unity and sharing between people and nature. Natural habitats will also increase well-being providing a clean and healthy environment.

3

To face the flooding problems of the site the solution was to restore the river to its natural shape by enlarging and de-engineering it. A flood plain is needed to attenuate floods and to create the right habitat for riparian vegetation, and this is shaped following the flooding issues zones of the area.

The floodplain will be characterised by a series of channels that will slow the water speed down and will shape different small islands. These will be characterised by riparian habitats, including river vegetation and wildlife. The islands shape will change depending on the water level height, creating every time different layouts.

The floodplain will include the existing industrial buildings to represent the historical connection of the factories with the river. These will be partially flooded in case of water level rise and will include activities space and exhibitions and will become part of the natural space.

The new floodplain will be characterised by a green buffer along its edges to allow biodiversity and wildlife. This will help screening the pollution caused by the highway on the north and to create a gradient from the built human habitat to the natural one of the river.

A transition space will be created in the residential area through the design of a network of green boulevards and SuDS which will help harvesting rainwater and collect it in the proposed phytoremediation ponds of the botanical garden where it will be cleaned and sent to the river.

There will be two proposed walkways in the floodplain: one will be elevated over the river and will connect all the buildings standing in the floodplain; the other one instead will connect the islands to allow the visitors to experience and be in close contact with nature.

The botanical garden paths will connect the areas separated by the existing sloping terrain going from the residential area (South) to the new open space designed (North), allowing visitors to experience a journey through different vegetation zones and phytoremediation ponds.

Natural

Cohabitation

Human 4

FLOW CONTROL STRUCTURE (weir to manage water and in floodplain) INFLOW (water entering the floodplain)

FLOOD STORAGE AREA (floodplain to storage water and avoid flooding) OUTFLOW (water leaving floodplain through weir)

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The existing buildings retained and situated in the floodplain and buffer have been chosen for their structure and industrial appearance.

The structures located in the river area will be reused as new attraction elements for activities (wall climbing, indoor scuba diving, lookout towers,...), while the buildings in the green buffer will be used as greenhouses, exhibition and event spaces.

The islands in the flood zone are going to be shaped following the new path of the river and its new channels, and are going to flood in case of level water rise.

The islands are going to be dedicated to wildlife, accessible only through the designed paths, allowing animals and vegetation to grow undisturbed, increasing biodiversity.

Other than being used as a formal garden showing the native riparian vegetation, to clean the collected water and to increase the biodiversity of the residential area, the urban botanical garden is also thought as a place for the community to spend time, with recreational space, and a place where people can engage with nature everyday.

The green buffer will function as a corridor for screening the highway and the railway, protecting the designed area and residential one from noise and air pollution.

riparian habitat

green buffer

river channels with flooded building

floodplain

riparian habitat

river buffer

green buffer

recreational space

urban botanical garden

transition space into human habitat

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7

(within the masterplan we had to select a smaller area to develop a detailed design and planting plan)

The design choices for this area follow the aim of creating a series of space where people can experience a journey into natural habitats and interact with it.

The terraced wetland and the wet woodland are the first habitats that people encounter from the road and from the wetland boardwalk, it is an introduction to the character of the site (the riparian habitat) and through it people are gradually taken into this new natural setting.

The street is an introduction to the natural habitat too through the use of a series of planting beds that are designed inside the existing asphalt which also represent how the former industrial area is taken over by nature.

A series of spaces are designed in the open space where the road is: an enclosed one with a pergola (eastern side) for people to rest and enjoy the views, various lookout points through the vegetation toward the botanical garden, and another pergola that introduces the visitors to the botanical garden entrance.

The botanical garden building is an existing multi-storey car park that is being reused to create a ‘plants house’ where different and various vegetations are being placed throughout the building. From here the visitors are able to enter the botanical garden through a boardwalk placed on top of a phytoremediation pond (used to clean the water collected from the nearby street SuDS and rainwater) where people can learn about water plants and the cleaning process.

On the southern area the walkway of the botanical garden continues and reaches the area of the deciduous woodland, a less formal space that brings people into a dense canopy and into wildflower lawns.

River Mersey

Industrial building Wet woodland Terraced wetland Wetland boardwalk Stone retaining wall

Vegetation planted in street Street gabions retaining wall Open space pergola Entrance pergola Botanical garden entrance Phytoremediation pond Pond boardwalk Wet woodland

Green buffer

Bar decking raised on pond

Habitat edge

Retaining wall

View

Deciduous woodland

Primary path

Woodland walkway

Secondary path

Retaining wall 8

A

Section A-A’

B

Botanical garden building

Pergola

Raised bar decking

Pond boardwalk

B’

Riparian habitat + wet woodland

A’ Section B-B’

Gabions retaining wall Deciduous woodland + walkway

Road Botanical garden building

Pergola

Terraced wetland

Wetland boardwalk 9

River Marginal Plants Wetland Woodland Wetland Marginal Plants Wetland Water Plants Street Plants Phytoremediation Woodland Phytoremediation Marginal Plants Phytoremediation Water Plants Woodland Woodland Wildflowers SuDS

10

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The planting plan on the right represents in details the vegetation chosen for each area of the site.

River Marginal Habitat Matrix

Most of the vegetation has been scheduled into panting matrix. The street planting beds and the deciduous woodland area instead have been designed using a common planting schedule which is included below.

Planting Schedule Type

Quantity

Code

Plant Name

Height (cm)

Girth

Age

Root

Container Density/m2

Notes

Wetland Woodland Matrix

Wetland Marginal Habitat Matrix

Grasses 25

Cbr

Calamagrostis brachytricha

CG

2L

3.00

Well formed crown

37

CaKF

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

CG

2L

4.00

Well formed crown

14

Cbu

Carex buchananii

CG

3L

4.00

20

Cea

Carex elata aurea

CG

2L

4.00

Wetland Woodland Wildflower Mix Wetland Marginal Habitat Matrix Wetland Water Habitat Matrix

34

Cf

Carex flacca

CG

0.5L

6.00

21

Cfl

Carex flagellifera

CG

2L

5.00

15

CoE

5L

3.00

CG

1L

4.00

46

Cp Lm

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' Carex pendula Liriope muscari

CG

22

CG

3L

5.00

26 30

MsG OpN

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'

CG CG

3L 2L

3.00 7.00

13

Pa

Pennisetum alopecuroides

CG

2L

3.00

21

Sa

Stipa arundinacea

CG

2L

3.00

8

Sg

Stipa gigantea

CG

2L

3.00

Well formed crown

37

St

Stipa tenuissima

CG

2L

5.00

Well formed crown

2

PcMC

Phormium cookianum 'Maori Chief'

CG

10-15L

9nr MsG

Shrubs 15nr CaKF

60-80

2

PtP

Phormium tenax 'Purpureum'

60-80

CG

15L

Triple crown

2

PtRS

Phormium tenax 'Rainbow Sunrise'

40-60

CG

10L

Triple crown

8nr Sg 15nr St

Trees

20nr Lm 21nr Cfl

2

Ac

Alnus cordata

300-350

10-12 (Selected Standard)

2x

RB

Clear stem 175-200cm; 4 breaks

1

Bn

Betula nigra

300-350

10-12 (Selected Standard)

2x

RB

Clear stem minimum 200cm; 4 breaks

4

Bp

Betula pendula

350-425

12-14 (Heavy Standard)

3x

RB

Clear stem 175-200cm; 5 breaks

5

Fs

Fagus sylvatica

350-425

12-14 (Heavy Standard)

3x

RB

Clear stem 175-200cm; 5 breaks

14nr Cbu

2nr PtRS

2nr PtP

26nr Lm 34nr Cf 30nr OpN

10nr Sa 1nr Bn

20nr Cea

11nr Sa 2nr PcMC 13nr Pa

22nr CaKF 17nr MsG

15nr CoE

Plants Examples of the Street Palette BOTANICAL GARDEN WOODLAND WILDFLOWER MIX John Chambers Heritage Woodland / Shaded Areas

BOTANICAL GARDEN OPEN WOODLAND WILDFLOWER MIX John Chambers Professional Acid Soils Grass and Wildflower Mix

Usage: deciduous woodland, open woodland and woodland-edge

Usage: Plants particularly found on moderately acid soils

Contains: 20% Wild Flowers and 80% Suitable ‘Low Maintenance’ Grasses.

2nr Ac

22nr St

11nr Cbr

22nr Cp

Sowing Rate: 3 – 5g/m2

14 nr Cbr

Triple crown

Botanical Garden Wet Woodland Matrix

Sowing Rate: 3 – 5g/m2 Wet Woodland Wildflower Mix

Contains: 20% Wild Flowers and 80% Suitable ‘Low Maintenance’ Grasses.

Botanical Garden Water Habitat Matrix

Woodland Wildflower Mix

Botanical Garden Marginal Habitat Matrix

Open Woodland Wildflower Mix

3nr Bp 3nr Fs

2nr Fs

1nr Bp

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The following time section runs through the wet woodland from the wetland (left) to the industrial building (right), showing the range of vegetation going from wetter (left) to drier (right).

15-30 Years Most of the trees will reach their maturity during this time frame, achieving height and strength.

Cracking Willows when reaching maturity will eventually crack.

5-15 Years Trees will be still growing, while the wetland marginal habitats will be already established. Osier Willows will start to be pollarded every three years.

0-5 Years The first stage of the vegetation will begin with trees planted as whips, to allow their adaptation to the site in a more natural way.

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Wetland Gabions retaining wall

Street planting beds

Pergola Pergola seating

Phytoremediation pond

Pond boardwalk

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SEATING

SEATING

The above section shows the designed pergola, the proposed seating and the street planting bed.

The pergola has been designed with the use of a two-elements structure: a vertical beam and an horizontal one. These two elements are fixed together with a jointing technique illustrated in on the right.

The pergola shade has been designed as a permeable layer that allows different shadows on the ground. This layer is made by a thin laser cut steel sheet to achieve the proposed shape.

The seating is coherent with the pergola structure as it is made by timber and steel.

The timber joints are assembled using a jointing technique called Mortise and Tenon which uses wedges as elements for fixing the horizontal and vertical beams. In this way the end of the tenon is expanded by the wedges to lock the two pieces together.

15

The above section shows the phytoremediation pond, the decking structure and how the plants are established within it.

Coir roll will be used for placing the riparian habitat vegetation around the pond, while pots will be placed for Water Lilies to grow in deeper water (70cm deep).

A textile lining will be placed as an impermeable layer to better contain the water in the pond.

The decking has been designed to achieve a light and elegant boardwalk. This has been achieved with the use of timber as the walkable paving, and with the use of a steel supporting structure.

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FINAL YEAR EXHIBITION

STOCKPORT FLOODPLAIN STRATEGY PLAN GREEN BUFFER FLOODPLAIN INDUSTRIAL AREA URBAN BOTANICAL GARDEN

WATER LEVEL POSSIBILITIES

NORMAL CONDITIONS

HEAVY RAIN

EXTREME FLOODING

17

ISLANDS AND RIVER VIEW

ISLANDS PATH VIEW

URBAN BOTANICAL GARDEN VIEW

INDUSTRIAL AREA VIEW 18

URBAN BOTANICAL GARDEN RIPARIAN HABITAT SUDS INDUSTRIAL BUFFER URBAN BUFFER

PINUS SYLVESTRIS

SALIX VIMINALIS

BETULA PENDULA

TYPHA LATIFOLIA

ACORUS CALAMUS

QUERCUS ROBUR

SALIX ALBA

SPARGANIUM ERECTUM

SALIX FRAGILIS

ALNUS GLUTINOSA

FAGUS SYLVATICA

POPULUS TREMULA

IRIS PSEUDACORUS

NYMPHAEA ALBA

SALIX BABYLONICA

STACHYS PALUSTRIS

CAREX PENDULA

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equilibrium | contemplation | protection September 2017

EQUILIBRIUM | CONTEMPLATION | PROTECTION GROUP A

Peace Garden Competition

The project brief was based on proposals for the reinstatement of the Manchester Peace Gardens in Lincoln Square, with the intention that its conclusions could form a key part of the regeneration proposals for the new Civic Quarter. The project was initiated by “The Friends of the Peace Garden� and was run in close collaboration with their chair, Steve Roman, FN4M (Faith Network For Manchester) and PlanitIE, (Landscape Consultants for the new Civic Quarter). Student proposals were presented to a panel of judges and formed part of the submission of ideas that might inspire or influence the final proposals for the space.

Our proposal wanted to highlight the existing memorials of the space through the regeneration of the whole square and adjacent streets.

Our concept was focused on a series of symbols that represented out concept of peace related to the space memorials (Abraham Lincoln and Princesssymbolism Diana). These shapes then formed the arrangement of symbolism our whole design. symbolism

astrological astrological

universal universal

orbital orbital

plan

A design focused on balancing opposing forces in nature and humanity. Enhancing the enclosed nature of the site offering protection and regeneration of an urban clearing for contemplation and reconciliation.

astrological

universal

design strategy

orbital

sections

legend focal point channel of primary movement protection from wind blow

green corridor pedestrian access points

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e

MANCHESTER DOCK 5 a.y. 2016-2017 Professors: I. Fisher, E. Fox

Landscape Atelier 1B

The purpose of this project was to redevelop a former industrial area in Manchester where the river is still characterized by some of the naval docks built during the industrial revolution.

The site includes wastelands, old industrial buildings and business areas.

The proposal was to integrate new housing blocks, that had to be settled near the river front, with the nearby residential neighbourhood and the existing open spaces.

My masterplan includes radical changes in the space: one of the former docks (covered after the industrial revolution) is reopened for creating a phytoremediation pond, the wastelands settled on the opposite side of the river is partially flooded to prevent flooding risks and is meant to become a wetland/wildlife natural space and the river promenade is expanded over the water to give more space to the new buildings.

The housing blocks have been placed following the extension of the existing street grid, creating primary and secondary roads. Two big open spaces have been placed at the end of each side providing new attractive piazzas for the area.

The existing green areas have been merged together to form a single big natural space that OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS AND ANALYSIS DRAWINGS surrounds the reopened dock, creating in this way a new setting for the phytoremediation OPPORTUNITIES CONSTRAINTS pond.

Water source [1] Polluted water [1] The new area is meant to be focused on residential, commercial and leisure activities. Two Need of public spaces [2] Lack of designed public spaces [2] existing buildings have been kept as part of the design because of their industrial history, Creation of community areas [2] Lack of community areas and facilities [2] because of their shape and position near the new piazza. These can be used as exhibition Industrial heritage [2] Unused land [2] and event spaces and are supported by the commercial activities placed on the ground floor Good location opportunity (near the Road cutting through the city centre) [3] neighbourhood [1] of each housing block (bars and restaurants).

I started by analysing the road network of the nearby areas and I decided I Business wanted to area extend the [1] roads till the river in order to create these main boulevards where all the public facilities arranged in Green area the blocks Wasteland are set.

[2]

Residential area

As you can see from the diagram the river front is mainly a business area, and the residential one is strictly separated.

The green areas are a few near Ordsall Lane and are not well designed as well. There is a need of designed public space to create a community area with facilities for the neighbourhoods.

CONSTRAINTS Polluted water [1] Lack of designed public spaces [2] Lack of community areas and facilities [2] Unused land [2] Road cutting through the neighbourhood [1]

I decided to keep these two industrial structure both for their

Road

location and for their shape: River [2]

Business area

near Ordsall Hall (so with the possibility of creating a public area) and with an elongated shape useful in case of exhibition uses.

I decided to reopen dock 5 and use it for depurating both the river water and grey waters The river is the main fea-through a phytodepuration systure in the area and it’s tem.

For this area I wanted to create parallel to the site.

Unfortunately the wateraisspace that could include all these public structures and the polluted and the river side existing green area in Ordsall is not maintained.

Lane and the depuration pond.

I wanted to widen the river bed Ordsall Lane is crossing creating a wetland where Pomothe whole neighbourhood, na Island is in order to prevent

Wasteland

Residential area

As you can see from the diagram the river front is mainly a business area, and the residential one is strictly separated.

The green areas are a few near Ordsall Lane and are not well designed as well. There is a need of designed public space to create a community area with facilities for the neighbourhoods.

creating a strong division, sound pollution and high car speed.

Most of the buildings near the river are old industrial buildings, some of them also abandoned.

Green area

Most of the buildings near the river are old industrial buildings, some of them also abandoned.

Existing building reused

[3] Good location opportunity Manchester city centre

Manchester city centre

Ordsall Lane

Then I started thinking on where to place my block, and I followed the grid system created from the streetI network. started by analysing the road The green area includes the existing green park at the beginning of Ordsall Lane and the one that belongs to OrdsallofHall. network the nearby areas and I decided I wanted to extend the the other of the river promenade, where we have two piazzas. On the right side (where a bridge over the water I wanted toto create roads istillvisible) the river in order cre- a ‘pubs, restaurants area’ ate these main boulevards where bition areas and the green area on the left. all the public facilities arranged in the blocks are set.

Green area

The position of the area is strategic as it is just right next to the city cenHousing blocks tre and could be a good focal points for the future developments.

Edges Nodes Primary roads

I decided to keep these two industrial structure both for their

Ordsall Lane location and for their shape:

near Ordsall Hall (so with the possibility of creating a public area) and with an elongated shape useful in case of exhibition uses.

I decided to reopen dock 5 and use it for depurating both the river water and grey waters The position of the areaaisphytodepuration strategic through sysas it is just righttem. next to the city centre and could beFor a good focal points to create this area I wanted for the future developments. a space that could include all these public structures and the existing green area in Ordsall Lane and the depuration pond.

I wanted to widen the river bed creating a wetland where Pomona Island is in order to prevent

Secondary roads

ESTER DOCK 5 PORTFOLIO

Laura Galasso

04

Laura Galasso SITE ANALYSIS

MANCHESTER DOCK 5 PORTFOLIO

MANCHESTER DOCK 5 PORTFOLIO

06

STRATEGIC Then I started thinking on where IDEAS to place my block, and I followed the grid system created from the street network.

The green area includes the existing green park at the beginning of Ordsall Lane and the one that belongs to Ordsall Hall.

Existing building reused

SITE ANALYSIS

04 21

The plan shows the detailed arrangement of the piazza and of the surrounding spaces. This is characterised by an elevated platform, that can be used for different functions (events space during summer/ winter, and ice skating area for winter). 5 symbolic cranes have been place (that act as lightings at night) to remind of the previous site function. The same symbolic approach has been done for the design of the river side: a series of containers create enclosed and more private area. These structures also act as exhibition spaces and cafés for visitors. Next to them, on the river, a promenade, acting as a dock, runs over the water’s edge.

On the Western side, the green area is characterised by sunken gardens featuring different shrubs. Glass pavilions elevated over these gardens are used as part of the exhibition buildings.

The Northern part of the exhibition buildings is covered by a canopy that emphasise the entrance to the buildings.

Between these structures, in the Southern part, a series of totems have been designed to illustrate and explain visitors the history of the river and of the former industrial area.

The housing block on the Northern part of the piazza is visually separated by the use of a green screen, to create a more private space for the houses’ entrance.

SECTION A-A’

Laura SECTION Galasso B-B’

Laura Galasso

MANCHESTER DOCK 5 PORTFOLIO

MANCHESTER DOCK 5 PORTFOLIO

1:20 SCALE

1:20 SCALE

1

RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION

19

22

1 3

2 1 6 5

4 7

2

3

4

5

6

7

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GREEN SEQUENCE a.y. 2016-2017 Professors: I. Fisher, E. Fox

Landscape Atelier 1A [Hand-drawn based course]

The aim of the project was to develop a master plan in an area of the city of Manchester next to a university and to a residential area for a site that included two green spaces separated by the River Irwell.

The design started by considering the flooding risks and the relationship and connection with the city.

The river has been reshaped (taking inspiration from the project: Room for the River Nijmegen), enlarging its bed and creating a series of small “island” along its centre. This are of the design is meant to become an space were vegetation and wildlife are the protagonists.

The need of public spaces in the area next to the neighbourhood allowed me to create a sequence of open spaces going from a typical “piazza” style (characterised with small green pavilions and an amphitheatre) to a green area (with a cafe and playground) and finally to a space where vegetation takes over the place to surround people’s view hiding the skyline OPPORTUNITIES AND AND CONSTRAINTS and noisesOPPORTUNITIES of CONSTRAINTS the city.

On the university side, the ground level next to the river has been modified to prevent flooding.

More spaces here are provided to the students including study pavilions (which are oriented toward the river) and designed open areas.

Furthermore the design concept includes the provision of a crossed bridge that can connect all the new open spaces created.

OPPORTUNITIES

OPPORTUNITIES CONSTRAINTS

CONSTRAINTS

Water source relationship Water withsource relationship Weak connectivity with (between Weak connectivity the two (between the two surrounding [1] surrounding [1] green areas and the city) green [1] areas and the city) [1] Strong topographical characteristics Strong topographical Flood characteristics risk [2] [2] [2]

Flood risk [2]

Big empty space in which Bigto empty provide space a inDrainage which toareas provide in Peel a Park Drainage create areas in Peel Park create program [3] program [3] separating walls [2] separating walls [2] Importance of the location Importance [4] of the Big location non-functional [4] space Big[3] non-functional space [3]

Create community areas Create for residents community Lack areasoffor community residents areas Lack andoffacilities community areas and facilities [3] [3] [3] [3]

1

1

OPPORTUNITIES:

[2]

OPPORTUNITIES: CONSTRAINTS:

N

Strong topography [2] Strong topography Flood Risk Drainage Areas

Flood Risk Drainage Areas

CONSTRAINTS:

N

- NON-FUNCTIONAL SPACE SPACE - NON-FUNCTIONAL SPACE N - BIG EMPTY SPACE N A- BIG EMPTY L A A L A - NEED OF COMMUNITY AREAS - NEED OF COMMUNITY - LACK OFAREAS COMMUNITY AREAS - LACK OF COMMUNITY AREAS PRIVATE/COMMERCIAL

PRIVATE/COMMERCIAL

UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY

RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL

COMMUNITY/COUNCIL

COMMUNITY/COUNCIL

L

L

COMMUNITY AREA/OPEN SPACE GREEN BEDS GREEN AREA (PLANTS) POINTS OF ACCESS MAIN PATHS FOCAL POINTS

Laura Galasso - Laura 16057662 Galasso - 16057662

GREEN SEQUENCE GREEN SEQUENCE

ISLAND VIEW FROM BRIDGE ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

MEADOWS SUNKEN PATH

24

GLASS STUDY PAVILION

GLASS STUDY PAVILION

GL

GLASS GREEN PAVILION

Laura Galasso - 16057662

COMMUNITY AREA/OPEN SPACE GREEN BEDS GREEN AREA (PLANTS) POINTS OF ACCESS MAIN PATHS FOCAL POINTS

CONCRETE SLABS INGLESTON INDIGENOUS STONES

ISLAND VIEW FROM BRIDGE

TEAK WOOD SLATES

Laura Galasso - 16057662

GREEN SEQUENCE

N

CONCRETE

MEA

PORTFOLIO

COMMUNITY AREA/OPEN SPACE GREEN BEDS GREEN AREA (PLANTS) POINTS OF ACCESS

FOCAL POINTS

PORTFOLIO

PLAN

1:500

11

N

Laura Galasso - 16057662

MAIN PATHS

GREEN SEQUENCE

ISLAND VIEW FROM BRIDGE

MEADOWS SUNKEN PATH

Laura Galasso - 16057662

GREEN SEQUE PORTFOLIO

The green area in the South-East side is characterised by a series of paths that follow different ground levels to give the visitors a stronger feeling of nature and vegetation. In the area were the new islands lay, instead, people experience the place through an elevated decking walkway. Here the ground of the islands acts as a flooding space for the river, allowing their shape to change in relation to different water levels creating every time a new interesting layout.

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GLASS STUDY PAVILION

GLASS GREEN PAVILION

Laura Galasso - 16057662

GREEN SEQUENCE PORTFOLIO

25 PLAN

1:1 50

0

WORK IN PRACTICE

The following pages include some of the projects that I have worked on in practice.

CARE HOME

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CARE HOME

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MASTERPLANNING

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ARCHITECTURE

SOPRAsottodentroFUORI a.y. 2014-2015 Professors: L. Cocchiarella, G. M. Fara, E. Faroldi

Thematic Studio

The project is set in the area of Milano where the faculty of architecture of the Politecnico University and a public swimming pool are located.

The purpose was to design new structures for the students, connecting them to the existing buildings of the university, and to rearrange the public spaces.

We decided to develop a project that included useful services for the campus: reading rooms, a wider modelling laboratory, dining rooms, open spaces, an auditorium, students and visiting professors residences and an exhibition space.

The main obstacle in the area was the difference in ground levels between the swimming pool and the university that created a real barrier between the two lots.

The bottom-left drawing shows the area as it was and the sections, highlighting the different ground levels.

The main goal of our project is to connect the two levels, symbolically demolishing the existing wall by placing study and dining rooms under the swimming pool area, at the same level of the university.

We also wanted to widen the university structures at the swimming pool level by decreasing its area without reducing its liveability. In this way we had the possibility to create a public square available not only to the students but also to residents.

The top-right image shows the final master plan, and the bottom-right one explains the services included.

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The main buildings are highlighted by the use of two materials (concrete and glass) alternated to create a strong visual separation and give a stronger impact, especially at night when the light effect evokes the image of a lighthouse. They rise from - 3.40 meters up to 6 meters above the street, and they are the focal elements since they are the connections between the two levels. They also have the function of entrance to the rooms embedded along the swimming pool perimeter wall.

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CONNECTIONS a.y. 2014-2015 Professors: C. Torricelli, H. Holzl

Architectural Design Studio 3

The purpose of this project was to develop a centre for professional integration. The given area is set in a lot next to the University of Architecture of Oporto (Portugal) and to the SAAL social housing, both designed by the architect Alvaro Siza.

The zone is characterized by various architectural styles, by a steep slope and by different ground levels. Therefore the challenge was to integrate the project with the existing buildings and landscape. To avoid big changes to the surroundings, we decided to place the structures on different ground levels embedding them into the ground.

The connection areas between the different levels, conceived as public open spaces, are the project's focal points. The functional spaces proposed are: an auditorium, an exhibition area, meeting rooms, offices and a canteen.

In the elevation it is possible to see the footbridge designed to connect the two area's extremities and to ensure a wider view of the city and of the river. The buildings at the extremities are the main structures and host the auditorium (bottom-right), the exhibition area (top-right) and the meeting rooms (left). They are also thought to connect the project area to the surroundings, providing an easy access to the lot from all directions.

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ERG ATLAS a.y. 2013-2014 Professors: G. A. ChiarandĂ , A. Meda, I. Paoletti

Building Technology Studio

The goal of the project was to develop a pavilion for EXPO 2015 in Milan that could represent at best a country, with the use of adequate architectural forms that take into consideration materials and techniques for the construction, maintenance and disposal.

Particular attention had to be paid to create a temporary structure that could be disassembled easily and without excessive costs.

The country chosen by my group was Morocco and the principal characteristics that had to be underlined were the desert and the country typical houses: buildings made by mud and tents inhabited by nomadic families. The idea in fact was to create a pavilion that could evoke, through its shape, a tent and, through its colours, the Moroccan mud buildings.

Furthermore, with the use of ground levels in different parts of the lot (through the setting of ramps and staircases) we managed to reproduced the shape of dunes, creating the visual effect of the desert.

The materials we chose for the construction of the pavilion were meant to be reused at the end of the exposition, and to be assembled and disassembled easily.

In the drawing below we can see the different structures of the pavilion and the analysis of their shapes and functions.

To design these shape we used Rhinovault, a plug-in for Rhinoceros, made by the BLOCK Research Group of Zurich.

Through this software we had been able to calculate the feasibility of each structure.

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